I wanted to share some hotel developments in Washington, D.C.

First, Donald Trump has expressed interest in opening a luxury hotel in Washington in the Old Post Office Building:
http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/po...hotel/179423/1

This hotel would probably have some of the best views in Washington.

According to the article, Virgin Hotels and SLS are also looking at jumping into the Washington market.

Second, the Loews has ended their partnership with the Madison, so presumably Loews is also looking for a new hotel in Washington.

We were supposed to get a 1 Hotel, but it is apparently going to become the "nicest Hilton Garden Inn in the country":
http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/08/on...to-become.html

Also, renovations continue on the famed Watergate Hotel building. I'm sure one of those hotel operators mentioned above will jump on board this project, it's an amazing opportunity:
http://dcmud.blogspot.com/2011/07/wa...ove-ahead.html

But it makes me wonder about where exactly the others plan to build. DC is fast becoming saturated. Perhaps at the new CityCenter site downtown? I was a bit surprised that a prime location and proposed fancy building is becoming a Hilton Garden Inn--I would think a more luxurious brand would have jumped in there.

Other developments in the last two years: the new W has been open about two years now and is lovely. Four Seasons got Bourbon Steakhouse, which has received amazing reviews. Another restaurant opened underneath the West End Ritz-Carlton called Ris (named after the chef, not the hotel) that has also received fantastic reviews and has delicious food.

Moving Thread to the FT Washington, D.C. Forum.
Obscure2k
Moderator
Luxury Hotels

What's new here?
There's not one "development" in your post.
The Donald postulating about opening a hotel in DC certainly doesn't count.

I thought a Marriott Marquis was already under construction at 9th and Mass? Is there going to be something else at CityCenter?

Indeed there is--after spending years as a particularly ambitious sort of real-estate vaporware, it's on its way to being one of the biggest hotels in the District.

The CityCenter development is a few blocks south on the site of the old convention center, but it won't include a hotel until a second phase of construction begins.

i had read that there is consideration of hotel construction on NE new york ave. not a nice place to stay at the moment as all that'sthere is many low cost hotels and fast foods.

disney recently procured rights to a very large piece of land at national harbor(6 miles south of dc). that may be on hold, as the people they probably had to bribe to start the construction process are now on their way to serving hard time.

about 5 years ago or so, there was talk of extending metro rail service from the the green line station in anacostia down the anacistia(295) to national harbor. there is currently a heavy rail line from new carollton to the douglas bridge(south capitol st) to oxon creek(blue plains). i have never seen a train on the tracks between blue plains and s. capitol st. the new anacostia trolley is using this right of way . i think it will run from the green line station to the new buildings(homeland security) at st. elizabeths.

It's about general developments. Feel free to ignore the thread if you have nothing to say.

"I thought a Marriott Marquis was already under construction at 9th and Mass? Is there going to be something else at CityCenter?"

Duh, stupid of me not to mention this in the original post! Construction is well underway there for what will be one of the largest hotels in DC. And I believe they are constructing two additional Marriott's within blocks of the convention center, as opposed to the earlier plans which called for a larger Marquis hotel. There is also a Marriott Courtyard Hotel currently being constructed in Foggy Bottom.

"The CityCenter development is a few blocks south on the site of the old convention center, but it won't include a hotel until a second phase of construction begins."

Yup. But when the second phase gets built, it will be a great opportunity for a luxury brand to build a new property in the heart of downtown.

Not to nitpick, but the articles about a hotel at City Center seem to be more of the variety of "city planners are saving this space for a hotel" than they are "corporation X is committed to building a hotel at City Center."

This is especially worrisome given the news that conference bookings are down 50% over last year.
http://www.bizjournals.com/washingto...s-in-2012.html

my understanding is that the gaylord convention center(national harbor) is fully booked for 2 years. i do realize this is in pg county, but it is not that much further from center city than far NY ave, ne.

the next two items in the national harbor build out is the outlet mall, and then the disney(like in walt) complex.

if i owned a hotel company, i would watch that development and figure it into my calculations before building a 1000+ room hotel in center city.

Slightly off-topic, I know, but a big +1 to RIS at 23rd and L Streets NW. See her website at www.risdc.com

Marriott is committed to building a Marquis hotel (I believe it will be the third in the country after New York and Atlanta), as well as a second Courtyard hotel (IIRC).

The San Francisco Marriott (Fourth Street, near the Moscone Center) was given the 'Marquis' designation a while back. There's also a JW Marriott Marquis in downtown Miami.

I don't believe that is correct. The Marquis is at 9th and Mass, not the old convention center (City Center).

Glad to see this is moving forward. That corner has been empty since I moved to DC, in such a prime location.

Also, I see little chance that the Old Post Office is going to become a hotel anytime soon. It is still full of tenants that would need to be relocated.

WaPo had an article yesterday that Marriott is going to put a Residence Inn and Courtyard right next to the Marquis at 9th and Mass.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...PdK_story.html

Another 500 hotel rooms in that area is going to make it that much harder to get a hotel at CityCenter.